It's a New Month!

So- It's a new month! We just went to the movies Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2. The kids had a blast. They thought the movie was better than the book. (I think going to a movie with your friends, is more fun that reading a book in their minds.) But that is okay. They are still young and impressionable! Last month I was lucky- both my 8 year old and my 11 year old wanted to read Rodrick Rules (Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2) So book club was easy peasy. My 11 year old is still selecting his book for this month. (He might have told me- I just can't remember right now... My 8 year old REALLY liked reading a book that relates to a movie- so he picked How to Eat Fried Worms as his next selection.

My older son read this book a few years ago-- so I have ideas already posted about this book.

You can click HERE to see our past ideas... I might change this up this time around!

It's NOT too late!

It's not too late to start a SUPER EASY book club this month!
March 25th : the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 comes out.
See official site HErE




My boys really enjoy this series! My second son has read the complete series... while my third son is plugging along in this book.. hoping to finish it by book club. If he finishes the book by book club... (I pay for the movie and popcorn and such.) If he doesn't... he still gets to go.. but he has to pay for it. The race is on!

I love and hate Movie/Book Clubs.

I love : that they are so super easy to host and motivate.
I hate: that we are limited to "what's coming to the theater" mentally. There are so many GREAT and Wonderful books that have been made into movies.... why narrow the playing field so much??

but I have to remind myself.
"Just be happy they are reading!"

that's the goal.... right?

Way Cool!

I don't know if you know this about me--

but I am a BIG FAN of

Tshirts for Book Clubs!

I think it helps with the "Club" feel and unity.

The boys have a sense of... "yeah.. I'm in a club... and it's cool! even if it is a book club"




I've made them....

We've made them... as a club activity....

I've designed them and had them made in the past....

But I think this year...

I think this year... I am just going to buy them.

Can you see how adorable -- (scratch that-)

I mean... HOW COOL these shirts are???

I feel very lucky that BOTH my middle sons (ages 8 and 11)- have picked Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules for their book club. (Means a little less work for me.)

So we are grouping their clubs together and will go see the movie together. (It comes out in theaters in March!)

There is plenty of time-- to pick up copies of this book-- and organize a book club for your boy!
(and trust me: Movie/Book clubs are easy- peasy! Have the kids read the book, take them to the movie. Simple!)

Won't we be a sight to see... trooping into the theater-- all those boys in Book Club T-shirts!

I'm sorry- that shirt is just adorable.
So stop thinking about it and-- go and Do!

and if you host book clubs...
email me at bookclub4boys(at)yahoo.com and share what books YOUR club has enjoyed!

Charlatan's Boy!

Grady is an orphan whose only "family" is a crook and a liar. A traveling salesman by the name of Professor Floyd. Set in a time of buggy traveling salesmen- Grady serves as a side-show or side-kick (depending on their angle) to earn a few coppers. You never know how they'll be received from town to town. This story follows their adventures and Grady's yearning to find out where he came from and where he fits in the world.
Oh- and another thing you should know-
Grady thinks he's a real live Freechie!

Click here to learn more about Freechie's from the author himself!

This truly is a delightful tale with homespun humor and insight.

To prepare our book club- of reluctant readers- I showed some highlights from the movie
Pete's Dragon.

I wanted to introduce the idea of a traveling salesman and introduce them to the "Southern Hospitality"

FREE Charlatan's Boy Book Club Invitation Bookmark-
Click HERE!

Instead of adding all the questions on the blog- I made a tri-fold book mark.
YOU CAN CLICK HERE and HERE
(Make sure you print BOTH the inside and outside of the bookmark.)
I passed out to the kids to use while they read the book.

(This helped with the discussion- on book club day.)

Congratulations to

T, Garret, Zack, ehobson and Henry!

They joined our Book Club Round Up and won FREE Copies of this book with poster!
(If you would like to be entered in future give aways- go to our Round UP page and sign up today!)

Book / Movie Books

This post is for books that have now been made into a movie.

I love using movies as a tool to help reluctant readers connect to characters, plot and settings in books. If you think about it- most of us struggle to read a book if it doesn't "hook" us in the first chapter or so. Kids are no different- in fact they tend to be worse! If it doesn't capture them in the first few pages a book is abandoned.

Now think about a child that actually struggles to read. To read fluidly enough to stream a sentence together. Sometimes important plot information, setting information and even details about characters get lost. By watching the first few minutes of the movie- kids will be begging- just 5 more minutes. They get "hooked". Hooked to characters, they understand where the plot is going, they can see the surroundings. Having all this information firmly in place, these reluctant readers can now plug through the book and find out "what happens next?".

Another thing I love about movies and books is how easy it is to host a book club!
Discussions are simple: compare and contrast the movie.
The activity is planned: watch the movie.
Snacks are simple: everyone bring their favorite munchie.